What was the Client Requirement?

Apogee were instructed by a private buyer to provide a Full Utility and POC report for a residence in Wheat Leasows, Telford. The property is known as Wheatley Grange and is situated next to Telford & Wrekin Council’s first solar farm. The client required two 22KW EV charging points that were both economically and physically viable, and was interested in understanding their other options for electrical upgrades such as batteries, rooftop solar, or a heat pump. This is a perfect time for Apogee’s new GridCheck report, which Apogee provided to support a budget estimate request for the connection.

What was the Apogee Solution?

Using Apogee’s new GridCheck report the Apogee Intelligence team were able to find out the available headroom for the property. By doing so we were able to confirm that two 22KW EV charging points would be able to connect, as there was 537kVA of capacity available at a nearby secondary substation. Apogee applied to NGED for an additional 42KVA which was granted and also includes an upgrade to 3-phase power to the property. Apogee will be assisting the client with neighbour consent to allow the installation, and early indications are they will all be granted. Across 7 titles these consents heavily rely on the benefits of 3 phase to the properties the plant runs through – if you are struggling with legal consent for utility works, Apogee can help.

What was the result of the report?

The use of the GridCheck report enabled the Apogee Intelligence team to identify how much headroom was available before the client made a final decision on any plans – In this case, there was ample capacity available at a nearby secondary substation which was confirmed by the connection offer we received from NGED. The GridCheck also informed us that there were other parties seeking connections nearby, which made the connection application much more urgent. Due to how much headroom the substation had we were also able to apply for an upgrade to 3 phase power connection to the residence and surrounding homes – Information like this can help clients understand their options and tailor their application to what the DNO is likely to offer, making the process smoother and less time-consuming. It can also be vital in situations where capacity is only just available or is being sought by many parties, as time is of the essence there.

Why was the client delighted?

The client was delighted to receive the report as it helped them obtain an additional 42KVA for the property, which allows for more power to be supplied to the property allowing for the installation of the EV charging points and potentially future heat pump provision. The report was delivered efficiently, and all interaction with connection providers (DNOs, IDNOs) and other necessary parties was managed by Apogee, allowing the client to make an informed decision within their preferred timescale without the hassle of additional administrative tasks. The GridCheck report made this process even smoother, as it gave us and the client an idea of what to expect from the DNO, before committing to fees for a formal connection request.

Who else would buy this?

Apogee's Full Utility Search and POC Consultancy reports are ideal for Solicitors, Clients and Project Managers, Developers, Local Authorities Consultants, Architects, Design & Build Contractors, Highways Scheme promoters and Surveyors. Anyone involved with a residential or commercial development who would benefit from understanding the risks and costs which come from utilities would be well placed to talk to us. Even if you are not the source of funds for the development and costs savings are of secondary importance to you, the team can help you avoid other inconveniences such as delays and reduce the risk of any accidents or strikes of existing plant, as well as improve due diligence and help you achieve compliance under the relevant guidelines and regulations, namely PAS128 and HSG47. Apogee have decades of experience in managing such conflicts across their capable team, a member of whom was on the PAS128 steering committee and who was personally involved in the drafting of PAS128 Quality Level D.

To learn more, contact Apogee Property & Utility Consultants.